ARTICULATING PLURAL MARKERS

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

ARTICULATING PLURAL MARKERS

1. When a singular noun ends in a vowel or voiced consonant (such as b, d, g), the s plural marker is realised as /z/:
   Boys /bɔɪz/
   Cars /kɑːz/
   Barber /ˈbɑːbəz/
   Legs /legz/
2. When a singular noun ends in a voiceless consonant (such as p, k), the s plural marker is realised as /s/:
   Laps /læps/
   Blacks /blæks/
3. When a singular noun ends in sibilant (hissing) sounds such as s, ch, sh, the es plural marker is pronounced as /iz/
   Classes /klɑːsiz/
   Churches /tʃɜːtʃiz/
   Clashes /klaʃiz/
   GAB